[RoboMom]

RoboMom's Unofficial Hints to help the judges:
1. Judging is hard work. Judges visit lots of teams in a short amount of time. All teams start out on equal footing.
2. READ over the awards. Decide which ones (2 or 3) you are really competitive for. Understand what these awards are for.
3. When the judges stop by, pay attention. Designate team members to do the talking. Be efficient. Know what you want to say and speak up. Pretend you have 3-4 minutes to sell your team, your business plan, your drive system, your image, etc. and then do it. Don't ramble on and on and them realize something really important after they leave. Be professional. Smile. Thank the judges for their time. If you can't answer a question, grab the person on the team that can.
4. Keep your pit orderly. It matters.
5. Judges ask other teams/refs/volunteers/field crew for their advice. How your team acts in the stands/halls/bathrooms/outside matters. Your actions are observed even if you aren't being "interviewed." Be helpful to others.
6. Handouts/giveaways may/may not help. It depends how they are done.
7. Judging is an art, with a little science thrown in. And did I say it's hard work?
8. With the queue, the teams on the field and coming off the field this year, the judges know there are times you won't be in your pit. But someone needs to be there to let the judges know when you are expected back. It's ok for this person to say "could you come back in 15 minutes and I will make sure the person you need to speak with is here?"
8. None of what I have posted above should come as a surprise to anyone in FIRST.